Dieting and Healthy Food Habits - Essay Example

"Dieting and Healthy Food Habits" is a worthy example of a paper on food and nutrition. Through the ages, celebrities’ slim figures and dieting schedules have been a special attraction for generation X. The outward appearances and grossly misrepresented advertisements have hijacked dieting from the health-related necessity to the much-exaggerated fashion statement. Today, dieting has become the domain of the fashion-conscious persons who are bent on transforming themselves in the image of models and Hollywood stars even at the cost of their precious health and life. The changing lifestyle and fast-paced life have added to the woes of the people. Junk food and fast food joints have replaced traditional three meals, which has contributed towards people acquiring more generous shapes and subsequently requiring drastic measures to keep slim and trim. It, therefore, has become very important for the public to become aware of the dire consequences of indiscriminate dieting patterns and to redefine dieting as per a healthy lifestyle.

     The current lifestyle of generation X leaves a lot to be desired. The fast-paced life and unhealthy eating habits have become the norm. In order to burn extra fat and calories accumulated due to frequent fast food, people like to go on unscheduled diet patterns, endangering their life while at the same time, making it difficult for them to enjoy social outings. The statistics suggest that in the West, 60% to 70% of the youngsters are inclined to be overweight and often resort to crash dieting which in other words means that they abstain from eating anything for a long period of time and then eat just enough to survive.

     According to nutritionists and dieticians, crash dieting is the most dangerous and must be avoided to avert serious health hazard in the future. Dieting should be taken as a priority to remain healthy and not as a resort to adhere to the latest fashion. It is also suggested that dieting should be taken up under the supervision of the expert so that the body continues to have the necessary nutrition while at the same time loses the unwanted fat contents. The latest research shows that dieting is most effective when people follow a controlled diet schedule where a frequent small portion of food is preferred to one meal a day. It is observed that people often tend to overeat when following the policy of a single meal.

     The present generation has become addicted to fast food and fizzy drinks which are the main reasons for their overweight and other lifestyle diseases which are plaguing them. Hyperactive syndrome, depression, eyesight problems, and diabetes are a few of the major lifestyle diseases that are being associated with unhealthy eating habits. It is also seen that people, especially the young generation views dieting as a means to lose weight so as to follow fashion. It is for this reason that they often follow erratic dietary habits endangering their health and life.

Hence it has become one of the most crucial factors to disseminate information regarding diets, dietary schedules, and correct eating habits so as to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.  Efforts must be made to dissuade youngsters from taking up extreme dietary schedules just as a follow up of a fashion statement and should be gently guided towards healthy food habits.